Resource Center

Ban the Box

Question: What cities/counties/states have enacted Ban the Box legislation?

Response & Analysis:

“Ban the Box” legislation — or legislation that limits an employer’s right to inquire into a job applicant’s criminal history — is on the rise across the country. Named for the box appearing on many employment applications that an applicant is asked to check to indicate that he or she has a criminal record, these laws are meant to remove barriers to employment for qualified workers with criminal records. Cities, counties and states are increasingly passing Ban the Box laws that have varying and sometimes broad applications. Such legislation may apply to employment by cities or state agencies, private employers, contractors and/or vendors depending on where the employer is doing business.

Statewide Ban the Box Policies:

As of February 2018, 30 states have adopted statewide Ban the Box policies.

1. Arizona

7. Hawaii*

13. Massachusetts*

19. New Mexico

25. Rhode Island*

2. California

8. Illinois*

14. Minnesota*

20. New York

26. Tennessee

3. Colorado

9. Indiana

15. Missouri*

21. Ohio

27. Utah

4. Connecticut*

10. Kentucky

16. Nebraska

22. Oklahoma

28. Vermont*

5. Delaware

11. Louisiana

17. Nevada

23. Oregon*

29. Virginia

6. Georgia

12. Maryland

18. New Jersey*

24. Pennsylvania

30. Wisconsin

* While all bans apply to public employers, these states have extended the ban to also cover private employers. Source: http://www.nelp.org

City and County Ban the Box Policies:

As of February 2018, more than 150 cities and counties have adopted Ban the Box policies.